The United States government was heading toward a shutdown on Tuesday, with funding expiring at midnight and Democrats and Republicans digging in on their respective demands.

A last-gasp meeting at the White House on Monday yielded no breakthrough on the issue, with top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer saying afterward that "large differences" remained between both sides.

His party, in the minority in both chambers of Congress, is seeking to flex its rare leverage over the federal government, eight months into Donald Trump's barnstorming second presidency that has seen entire government agencies dismantled.

Rules in the 100-member Senate require government funding bills to receive 60 votes -- seven more than the Republicans currently control.

Unless Congress passes a bill before midnight

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